Personal Migration Isssues
Spain & Portugal

A lot of people talk about “moving for tax reasons,” but the real question is: which rules will still work after the headlines change? Roy Saunders, Founder and Chairman of the IBSA Club, sits down with Jose Aguilar Shea, a Spanish tax lawyer at Squire Patton Boggs in Madrid, to unpack what personal migration to Spain and Portugal actually looks like right now for professionals, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth individuals.

We start with Spain’s special tax regime known as the Beckham Law, including what it does (and doesn’t) cover: a flat 24% rate on employment income up to €600,000, a focus on Spanish source income, and why scrutiny from the tax authorities has increased even as access has broadened. Jose explains the 2023 changes that opened the door wider for remote workers, and how that connects to the remote work visa often called the digital nomad visa for non-EU nationals. We also dig into the “active business” requirement for founders who want to set up in Spain without losing the benefit.

Then we get honest about retirees. Spain can be an incredible lifestyle destination, but the incentives are not built around pensioners. We walk through the non-lucrative visa, the repeal of Spain’s Golden Visa, and what progressive Spanish income tax can mean for pension income under double tax treaty planning. Finally, we compare Portugal’s dramatic shift away from its old retiree-friendly framework, the newer 20% approach for qualifying work, and how Portugal’s Golden Visa now leans toward funds and business activity rather than real estate.

If you’re weighing Spain vs Portugal for tax residence, succession planning, or a digital nomad relocation, this is your roadmap.